Colombia Republic of Colombia Republica de Colombia
Population of Colombia
An Afro Colombian Woman
Mestizo Women
An Amerindian Man wearing traditional hats
Colombia's former president: Alvaro Uribe
The current population of Colombia is 45,586,233. Colombia's population is very ethnically diverse. The main ethnic groups are Mestizo (58% of the population; Mixed European and Native American Descent), White (26%), Afro Colombian (15%) and Amerindian (1%; the indigenous people of Colombia).
Economy of Colombia
Colombian Peso Banknotes
Coal
Colombia's annual per capita income is estimated at being around $9,445 dollars. One of the main Colombian industries/ exports is Agriculture. This includes coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables and forest products. Another top industry is Mining. Colombia has the largest coal reserve in South America, and is second to Brazil in hydroelectric potential. Colombia is also a net oil exporter. The oil business in Colombia started when 2 million barrels of high-quality oil where discovered at the Cusiana and Cupiagua fields, about 120 miles east of Bogota. The currency is the Colombian Peso, with an exchange rate of about 1843.5 pesos to 1 U.S. dollar.
Language
The most commonly spoken language is Spanish, however, there are about 100 other languages. Some of these include Achagua, Arhuaco, and Camsa.
Religion
Las Lajas Cathedral
The National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) does not collect religious statistics, and accurate reports are difficult to obtain. However, it is believed that around 95% of the population identifies as christian, the vast majority of which (81-90%) are Roman Catholic, about 1% of Colombians follow indigenous religions, and about 1% adhere to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Government
President Juan Mauel Santos
The government of Colombia is a Unitary Presidential Republic, within the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic. The government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branch. The legislative branch is comprised of the senate and the house of representatives. The head of the executive branch is the President of Colombia, who is the head of state and head of government. The current president is Juan Manuel Santos. President Santos assumed office on August 7, 2010.
Tourist Attractions
Los Katios National Park
Colombia has six UNESCO world heritage sites, four cultural and two natural. These include Historic center of Santa Cruz Mompox (cultural), National Archeological Park of Tierrandentro (cultural), Port, fortress and group of monuments of Cartagena (cultural), San Agustin Archeological Park (cultural), Los Katios National
Fort of Cartagena
Park (natural), and Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (natural).
Tourist Activities
A beach in Colombia
Colombia, being one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, has a variety of options for tourists. Visitors can stay in Bogota and visit museums, or go exploring the Amazon Rainforest and see pink dolphins in the Amazon River. You can even go skiing in the Andes. One lesser-known area (to foreign tourists) of Colombia is a little island called San Andres. San Andres is full of touristic activities, including museums, beaches, shipwrecks, restaurants, and lots of places to go diving/snorkeling with an amazingly colorful assortment of tropical fishes.
The pink dolphin
One-Day Itinerary for Visiting Bogota, the capital
The view of Bogota from Monserrate
10:30-am: Colombian Culture
The three main cultural institutions in Bogota are all clustered in the Candelaria District. The Botero museum hosts the personal art collection of artist Fernando Botero, a famous Colombian master known for obese figures. He has many statues throughout Manhattan. Across the street, the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango reminds tourists of the cities pre-colonial past, and includes a variety of musical instruments that are native to the region. Nearby, the Gold Museum traces the history of the precious metal, exhibiting the beautiful and elaborate artifacts the native Colombians would make out it.
1:30-pm: Lunch
For lunch, visit Andres Carnes de Res, a beloved restaurant and Steakhouse serving typical Colombian dishes like steak, rice, beans and plantains. They have entertainment (music, dancing) for both kids and adults. Visit andrescarnesderes.com for more information.
3:30-pm: Botanical Garden
Despite the congestion in Bogota, you can still find lots of greenery in the Jardin Botanico Jose Celestino Mutis, a 50-acre oasis of lush tropical gardens and palm trees that includes an orchid gallery, a butterfly tent, a group of cactuses and floating lotuses.
6:00-pm: Monserrate
Monserrate, the "Sanctuary of Colombian people", is a great stop for tourists. Monserrate is a mountain that dominates the city center of Bogota. Monserrate is a pilgrim destination, as well as a tourist attraction, including a church, restaurants, a cafeteria, and souvenir shops. Monserrate can be accessed by aerial tramway, a funicular or by climbing (the preferred method of the pilgrims). All downtown Bogota, south Bogota and some sections of the north of the city are visible facing west, making it a popular destination for watching the sunset over the city. You can have dinner at one of the two restaurants here. Visit http://www.cerromonserrate.com/eng_files/index_eng.html for more information.
Famous People
Renteria with the Giants in 2009
Edgar Renteria is one of the most well known people from Colombia. Renteria was born in Barranquilla on August 7, 1975. As a youth, he attended Instituto Los Alpes High School in Barranquilla. After high school, he was signed to the Florida Marlins at the age of 16 by scout Levy Ochoa. He has played for the Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Brave, Detroit Tigers, and the San Fransisco Giants. He is currently playing as a shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds. In 2010, he lead the San Fransisco Giants to their first World Series Championship since 1954, and won the 2010 World Series MVP award.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a writer, journalist, screenwriter and a short story novelist. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. He is best-known for his novels, including 100 Years of Solitude (published in 1967) and Love in the Time of Cholera (published in 1985). His works received significant critical acclaim, most notably for popularizing the writing style known as magical realism.
Shakira
Shakira is a famous musician from Colombia. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, she showed signs of talent at her school with her live performances. She has won two Grammies and seven Latin Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Latin Music Awards and has been golden-globe nominated. Shakira's Waka Waka was chosen as the official song for the 2010 World Cup, and became the best-selling World Cup song of all time.
Food
Bandeja Paisa
Colombia's cuisine, which is heavily inspired by Spanish and Indigenous populations, is not as widely know as other Latin American cuisines such as Peruvian or Brazilian, but there are plenty of delectable dishes, a great variety of fruits, rum and Colombian coffee. One traditional plate is called the Bandeja Paisa. It constitutes of overly large portions, usually taking up a tray instead of only a plate. Common ingredients include: ground meat, pork rinds, fried egg, white rice, plantain, red beans with cooked pork and black pudding.
Republic of Colombia
Republica de Colombia
Population of Colombia
The current population of Colombia is 45,586,233. Colombia's population is very ethnically diverse. The main ethnic groups are Mestizo (58% of the population; Mixed European and Native American Descent), White (26%), Afro Colombian (15%) and Amerindian (1%; the indigenous people of Colombia).
Economy of Colombia
Colombia's annual per capita income is estimated at being around $9,445 dollars. One of the main Colombian industries/ exports is Agriculture. This includes coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables and forest products. Another top industry is Mining. Colombia has the largest coal reserve in South America, and is second to Brazil in hydroelectric potential. Colombia is also a net oil exporter. The oil business in Colombia started when 2 million barrels of high-quality oil where discovered at the Cusiana and Cupiagua fields, about 120 miles east of Bogota.
The currency is the Colombian Peso, with an exchange rate of about 1843.5 pesos to 1 U.S. dollar.
Language
The most commonly spoken language is Spanish, however, there are about 100 other languages. Some of these include Achagua, Arhuaco, and Camsa.
Religion
Government
The government of Colombia is a Unitary Presidential Republic, within the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic. The government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branch. The legislative branch is comprised of the senate and the house of representatives. The head of the executive branch is the President of Colombia, who is the head of state and head of government. The current president is Juan Manuel Santos. President Santos assumed office on August 7, 2010.
Tourist Attractions
Colombia has six UNESCO world heritage sites, four cultural and two natural. These include Historic center of Santa Cruz Mompox (cultural), National Archeological Park of Tierrandentro (cultural), Port, fortress and group of monuments of Cartagena (cultural), San Agustin Archeological Park (cultural), Los Katios National
Tourist Activities
Colombia, being one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, has a variety of options for tourists. Visitors can stay in Bogota and visit museums, or go exploring the Amazon Rainforest and see pink dolphins in the Amazon River. You can even go skiing in the Andes. One lesser-known area (to foreign tourists) of Colombia is a little island called San Andres. San Andres is full of touristic activities, including museums, beaches, shipwrecks, restaurants, and lots of places to go diving/snorkeling with an amazingly colorful assortment of tropical fishes.
One-Day Itinerary for Visiting Bogota, the capital
10:30-am: Colombian Culture
The three main cultural institutions in Bogota are all clustered in the Candelaria District. The Botero museum hosts the personal art collection of artist Fernando Botero, a famous Colombian master known for obese figures. He has many statues throughout Manhattan. Across the street, the Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango reminds tourists of the cities pre-colonial past, and includes a variety of musical instruments that are native to the region. Nearby, the Gold Museum traces the history of the precious metal, exhibiting the beautiful and elaborate artifacts the native Colombians would make out it.
1:30-pm: Lunch
For lunch, visit Andres Carnes de Res, a beloved restaurant and Steakhouse serving typical Colombian dishes like steak, rice, beans and plantains. They have entertainment (music, dancing) for both kids and adults. Visit andrescarnesderes.com for more information.
3:30-pm: Botanical Garden
Despite the congestion in Bogota, you can still find lots of greenery in the Jardin Botanico Jose Celestino Mutis, a 50-acre oasis of lush tropical gardens and palm trees that includes an orchid gallery, a butterfly tent, a group of cactuses and floating lotuses.
6:00-pm: Monserrate
Monserrate, the "Sanctuary of Colombian people", is a great stop for tourists. Monserrate is a mountain that dominates the city center of Bogota. Monserrate is a pilgrim destination, as well as a tourist attraction, including a church, restaurants, a cafeteria, and souvenir shops. Monserrate can be accessed by aerial tramway, a funicular or by climbing (the preferred method of the pilgrims). All downtown Bogota, south Bogota and some sections of the north of the city are visible facing west, making it a popular destination for watching the sunset over the city. You can have dinner at one of the two restaurants here. Visit http://www.cerromonserrate.com/eng_files/index_eng.html for more information.
Famous People
Edgar Renteria is one of the most well known people from Colombia. Renteria was born in Barranquilla on August 7, 1975. As a youth, he attended Instituto Los Alpes High School in Barranquilla. After high school, he was signed to the Florida Marlins at the age of 16 by scout Levy Ochoa. He has played for the Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Brave, Detroit Tigers, and the San Fransisco Giants. He is currently playing as a shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds. In 2010, he lead the San Fransisco Giants to their first World Series Championship since 1954, and won the 2010 World Series MVP award.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a writer, journalist, screenwriter and a short story novelist. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. He is best-known for his novels, including 100 Years of Solitude (published in 1967) and Love in the Time of Cholera (published in 1985). His works received significant critical acclaim, most notably for popularizing the writing style known as magical realism.
Shakira is a famous musician from Colombia. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, she showed signs of talent at her school with her live performances. She has won two Grammies and seven Latin Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Latin Music Awards and has been golden-globe nominated. Shakira's Waka Waka was chosen as the official song for the 2010 World Cup, and became the best-selling World Cup song of all time.
Food
Colombia's cuisine, which is heavily inspired by Spanish and Indigenous populations, is not as widely know as other Latin American cuisines such as Peruvian or Brazilian, but there are plenty of delectable dishes, a great variety of fruits, rum and Colombian coffee. One traditional plate is called the Bandeja Paisa. It constitutes of overly large portions, usually taking up a tray instead of only a plate. Common ingredients include: ground meat, pork rinds, fried egg, white rice, plantain, red beans with cooked pork and black pudding.
See this link for a recipe: http://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/paisa-tray-bandeja-paisa
References
http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/co
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=CO
christ-churches.co.cc
http://www.greatarchaeology.com/heritage_sites_by_countries.php?page=2&country=CO
http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/2403306
treehugger.com
vinounku.wordpress.com
frenchcreoles.com
weblogs.sun-sentinel.com
flickr.com
international.tamucc.edu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Rentería
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandeja_paisa
http://www.bogotatravelguide.com/places-to-go-in-bogota/botero-museum.php
http://www.banrepcultural.org/
http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/eng/home.htm
http://www.jbb.gov.co/jardinbotanico/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Garc%C3%ADa_M%C3%A1rquez
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakira